Number-displaying device



Sept- 1954 J. LESNIAK ETAL 2,689,421

NUMBER-DISPLAYING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1952 IN V EN TORS.

5 JosEPI-I Les/mm,

OONNELL BY Jonu A Y ATTORNEY,

Patented Sept. 21, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,689,421 NUMBER-DISPLAYING DEVICE Joseph Lesniak, Dearborn, and John A. Donnelly, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 30, 1952, Serial No. 296,358

1 Claim. 1

Our invention pertains to a, device adapted for use on patterns employed in industrial shops and is particularly desirable where numerals identifying a specific pattern or'other tool have to be changed quickly. To make this aspect of our invention more understandable, it will be mentioned here that according to the general practice patterns are provided with a recess wherein numerals such as set forth the date and a reference to the day or night shift are soldered in place and have to be removed when a new set of numerals are to be inserted in their place. In some industrial establishments this is done daily and sometimes twice a day.

Obviously, soldering numerals in place is a wasteful and time-consuming operation. It is in order to make the change of numerals an easy procedure capable of being accomplished easily and quickly, without the use of any tools except a screwdriver, that we have made our improvement.

Our invention calls for a special holder and a plurality of movable blocks fitting into said holder. The latter is of a specific design making the insertion of numerals or their removal for the purpose of substitution of others an easy matter requiring but little time.

We shall now describe our invention with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top elevational view of our device as set within a recess of a pattern;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a holder for numerals and a member to be used in combination therewith.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The principal element of our number-displaying device is an oblong holder best shown in Fig. 5 and generally identified by numeral I0. It includes a flat bottom II and two side rails or flanges I2 which extend from one end I3 of said holder toa line spaced from the opposite end I4 thereof. As a result the portion of the holder from said line to said last-named end has the shape of a flat plate I 5 devoid of any side flanges.

At the first-named end I3 the holder includes a shallow plug I6 disposed between the two flanges, while access to the space between the flanges endwise may be had from the direction of said plate I5. The opposed faces of the sides of said flanges are undercut so that at the 2 top the distance between them is smaller than at the level of the bottom I I of said holder.

As the holder is to be affixed to a pattern, it is provided with holes for application of screws by means of which it is to be kept in place. For that purpose the pattern is usually provided with a recessor a shallow'slot. Such a recess is marked by numeral I 'I. At one end adjoining plug I'B the holder is provided with a hole I8. A screw I9 passing through said hole is threaded into the body of the pattern 20. At the opposite end the holder contains another hole 2| to which we shall refer presently.

Slidably fitting into the holder from the opposite end thereof, that is, from the direction of said end plate I5, are a plurality of blocks 22, each of them carrying a numeral, a letter, or any other indicia. Each block as seen endwise has the form of an isosceles trapezoid in which the top is narrower than the base. The sides of each block will be in abutment with the undercut faces of the flanges of the holder, this arrangement preventing the blocks from falling out from their respective places. In addition to the blocks carrying numerals or other signs, we are employing at least one block 23 to fit over the top of screw I9 so as to conceal it. This, however, is simply a matter of choice.

Upon insertion of this blank block, blocks 22 carrying numerals or other indicia are slid into the holder one by one as desired, whereupon in order that they may not be displaced endwise we are using a locking member 24. The member is of the same'width as said plate I5 and has a square, cut-off end 25 for abutment with the free endsof flanges I2. It is also provided with a hole 26 which, when the locking member is positioned upon plate I5, will be in alinement with hole 2|, permitting application of a screw 26a. The latter is to be threaded into the body of pattern 20.

Once the holder has been secured to a pattern within a recess made for this purpose, the blocks carrying numerals may be changed without the need of removing the holder from said recess. Blank block 23 which covers the top of screw I9 retains its position permanently. However, in

order to remove from the holder said numeralcarrying blocks 22 it is necessary to remove screw 26a and to lift the locking member 24. The looking member being off, all of the blocks or any of them may be slid out and new blocks may be substituted in their place, whereupon the locking member 24 is again employed and secured in its position by means of screw 26a to prevent the blocks from sliding out of the holder.

It will be understood that some changes may be made in the structure of our device without departing from the inventive principle disclosed herein.

What we, therefore, wish to claim is as follows:

A number-displaying device for patterns, the device including an oblong holder having a flat bottom and being closed at oneend, a flange along each side, the spacing between the flanges at the top being smaller than at the level of said bottom, said flanges extending from one end of the holder to a line spaced from the opposite end thereof, the portion free of flanges forming a flat end plate, the holder being provided at one end remote from said plate with a hole for insertion of a screw to be threaded into the pattern, while the end plate is provided with a similar hole, a plurality of blocks adapted to fit endwise into. the holder from the direction of said end plateandto be retained within the holder by said flanges, individual blocks carrying numerals or other indicia for display between said flanges, and a locking member adapted to be positioned over the end plate for abutment with the free ends of the flanges, the locking member being provided with a hole in alinement with the hole in the plate, and a screw adapted to pass through both holes to keep the locking member in place upon said holder and to secure the holder to the pattern.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 269,681 King Dec. 26, 1882 596,831 Roebuck Jan. 4, 1898 1,517,718 Feldner Dec. 2, 1924 1,773,480 Flint Aug. 19, 1930 1,856,012 Yeck Apr. 26, 1932 2,141,989 Weisser Dec. 2'7, 1,938 2,540,718 Duskin Feb. 6, 1951 

